on the network

Grid manager and transmission agent

Red Eléctrica is responsible for the transmission of high voltage electricity in Spain. To do so, it manages the electricity infrastructures that make up the transmission grid and connects the power stations to the points where it is distributed to consumers.

Law 17/2007, of 4 July, confirmed the status of Red Eléctrica as the manager of the transmission grid and attributed it the function of sole transmission agent under a regime of exclusivity. In compliance with this Law, in 2010 Red Eléctrica acquired the assets of the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands and the remaining assets on the Spanish peninsula that were pending transfer from the electric utility companies. This acquisition represented the definitive consolidation of the model of sole transmission agent and electricity system operator.

As manager of the transmission grid, Red Eléctrica is responsible for developing and enlarging the grid, carrying out its maintenance and managing the transmission of electricity between external systems and the Spanish peninsula and guaranteeing third party access to the transmission grid under equal conditions.

In-service facilities

The transmission grid of Red Eléctrica is comprised of more than 44,000 kilometres of high voltage electricity lines and more than 5,500 substation bays, and more than 92,000 MVA of transformer capacity. These assets make up a meshed grid that is secure and reliable that offers the highest level of service quality to the Spanish electricity system.

Transmission grid (peninsular and extra-peninsular) of Red Eléctrica. Data available at December 31, 2019

Km of circuit

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019(1)

400kV

21,181

21,616

21,725

21,727

21,736

220kV

19,523

19,616

19,641

19,736

19,854

150 - 132 - 110kV

398

524

524

636

697

< 110kV

2,023

2,025

2,035

2,075

2,085

Total

43,124

43,781

43,925

44,173

44,372

Substation bays (peninsular and extra-peninsular) of Red Eléctrica. Data available at December 31, 2019

Number of bays

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019(1)

400kV

1,433

1,450

1,476

1,498

1,535

220kV

3,168

3,196

3,217

3,264

3,355

150 - 132 - 110kV

99

99

125

130

151

< 110kV

808

826

856

906

925

Total

5,508

5,571

5,674

5,798

5,966

Transformer capacity (peninsular and extra-peninsular) of Red Eléctrica. Data available at December 31, 2019